Musings and Snippets from a recently retired JP. I served for 31 years, mostly in west London. I was Chairman of my Bench for some years, and a member of the National Bench Chairmen's Forum All cases are based on real ones, but anonymised and composited. All opinions are those of one or more individuals. JPs swear to enforce the law of the land, whether or not they approve of it. Nothing on here constitutes legal advice.

Thursday, May 12, 2011

A Shot Across Tabloids' Bows?

This report suggests, as I pointed out at the time, that some tabloids' reporting of the Joanna Yeates murder case was appalling even by their debased standards. The vilified 'weirdo' teacher will wreak his revenge in the libel courts (although I suspect that the papers will quietly, if expensively, settle the matter). Let's see how it goes.

What The Papers Said

40 Bloggers That Really Count (Times)There are 30,000 or so unpaid magistrates across England and Wales. For five years, one of them has anonymously detailed the cut and thrust of the job, providing a grimly funny insight into Britain’s sinful underbelly with the same feel and tone as a Hogarth or Dickens.